how long between tung oil coats

paul, Hey Cobus. best . Id planned on putting on the third coat today however there is a best . best . I use 100% tung oil, and I mix it 50% with tung oil, and 50% mineral spirits.It's one of my favorite finishes to use.I generally put on a coat, let it dry good, and lightly sand it with 600 wet /dry paper.Add another coat, and repeat the process till I have about 3-4 coats on.I don't like just tung oil finishes.100% tung oil for me..! best . Fix fine-grit sandpaper to a palm sander and sand the surface. The number of coats of Tung oil you should apply on particular woodwork depends on the, Type of the wood; Glossiness you want; Level of sheen you want; paul, Hi Cliveous. Glad Im a small part of your journey. Mineral spirits is a highly refined petroleum based oil so I wonder if its 100% food safe itself? paul. Tung oil originates from South America and China. best . Hey Mark. Also, dip your. After sanding and cleaning the wood surface to remove any previous finish, spread the oil along the grain pattern using a clean, lint-free rag. Hi Paul, thank yo so much for this thoughtful and detailed article, and for replying to these comments! Apply following the grain of the wood. . Also, use Ultra Fine Steel Wool to rub gently between coats. Im torn on the paste wax now. Then for a more durable finish top coat over the Shellac with a clear lacquer. It is also best to apply it in the wood grains direction. Sand up to a 400 grit paper, use a grain filler and thin all applications in steps. WebPaint type and surface condition will both influence the amount of time required and the amount of coats needed. Hey David, Take your time and focus on applying each coat correctly. . best . . Its always nice to hear about end results. I could be wrong. I bought a couple of unfinished parawood desks that I want to finish with tung oil. Also, feel free to use a lint-free cotton cloth or brush for better results. The knots will be fine. I polish surface finishes to increase gloss. It is coarse enough to remove dust nibs and fine enough so as not to alter the sheen. The oil also allows you to mix various tints to deliver your desired color shade. But I dont want to do something that will not hold up or come off on people if they sit on it. Pure Tung oil gives off a deep, rich, matte-like finish. Lastly be sure that you want gloss and not depth (like a black baby grand piano finish). best . Check it out. Oil finishes soak into the pores. . Is your guitar acoustic or electric (sorry musically challeneged)? I wipe when I see any spot on the surface looking dry. Also, functional surfaces that experience human traffic and more frequent handling need a minimum of five coats, and decorative items are okay with two to four coats. Hey Robin. This article has been viewed 101,486 times. Use a light touch to avoid sanding through the finish. But I am not excited for the oily finish it leaves afterwards. . . Plant based oils (walnut oil, linseed oil, cooking oils, etc) are subjectto rot, so they are not technicallyfood safe. I am considering Tung oil but concerned that it will not penetrate the maple because it is so dense/hard. Watco is not a PURE TUNG OIL but an oil/varnish combo. Go for it. Although Tung oil hardens to give a hard and solid surface, the finish remains elastic. paul. You can test to see if the surface is ready to be re-coated by doing a light sanding in a small area with a 400-600 grit sandpaper. I was thinking of applying the tung oil on the mainland and then transporting them to nail up with the finish already on. Its pure tung oil thats super heated which changes its composition so it dries overnight. This is, of course, if you only applied a Tung oil coat with no top coat sealant over it. Im working on restoring a vintage drum set and plan to apply a paper backed (1/40th) composite rosewood veneer to the shells. Comment Paul, Thank you for the informative info. Wood is like a sponge. Sorry for the delayed response (out of town). best . Thinning can be accomplished by adding paint thinner, mineral spirits or naphtha. It offers minimal protection but adds depth and smoothness to your wood project. . A gallon of Tung oil will cover 400-500 square feet but since we will be thinning it and applying multiple coats 2.5-3 gallons is recommended for that area dimension. This will vary time-wise depending on temperature and humidity. I check my YouTube site twice daily but I dont check this site often so I am typically late in getting back to people. Your email address will not be published. . Thank you very much. WebFirst time using Tung Oil and instructions said to lightly sand between coats (I used 220). Oils, unlike clear surface coatings polyurethane, lacquer and shellac (from here in I will refer to them as surface coatings), should be finish sanded anywhere from 320 to 400 grit sandpaper. Fortunately, Tung oil is easy to clean. It is super-heated Tung oil that alters its molecular structure. Hope that helps. The good news is you can still apply thinned coats and while it may not go as deep it will still saturate more than the first coat. Yeah maple is tough. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sorry wish I could be of more assistance. . Some oil finishes, such as Watco Danish Oil and Deft Danish Oil, instruct to apply coats within an hour or two; following these directions wont produce good results. Hope this helps. It would be best to have at least five Tung oil coats on your surface. If on the other hand it turns gummy and clogs your paper the surface is not dry enough for re-coating. Hi Paul thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience! Thanks, Hey Kriya. In addition, it would be best to wait for at least 24 hours between each coat. best . Is this a good plan or should i try and strip some of the oil prior to leaving town. Keep an eye out for wet spots glistening in grooves and depressionsthese areas can be easy to overlook. It isnt bothered too much by UV other than every finish tends to dry in direct sunlight. It is durable, food safe, water PROOF(not just resistant) and it is easily repaired when damaged (scratched, worn, etc). You have saved me a ton of work! The more coats you put on, the darker and more lustrous the finish will become and the more protected it will be. Tung oil comes from the seeds of the nuts from the Chinese Tung tree, so if you have a nut or seed allergy proceed with caution, it may not be the best choice for surfaces or utensils that will be in direct contact with food. For depth need to spend time with a good grain filer (I like Aqua Coat). paul. Fortunately in Illinois we still have access to mineral spirits. As you are probably aware having used Tung Oil and as Ive stated in my post Pure Tung Oil requires long dry times between coats. You can put old rags on dirty shoes if you have to walk across the surface. It is possible to apply Tung oil over the. Hi Paul, This oil is a blend of various compounds such as linseed oil and Tung oil. Hey Scoot. Thanks very much. Applying more tung oil on top of non-cured oil delays the process dramatically and may seal in wet oil making it impossible to overcome. JavaScript is disabled. We live in the Northwest, so hot, dry summers and wet winters (although Im trying to find the space to bring it in over the wetter months). Perhaps on an older piece of wood something was spilledor applied that is resulting in lack of penetration or over-penetration of the oils. Not many places carry it. It takes Tung oil close to three to four days to cure well. However, the finish only needs a day to dry in between coats. Therefore, it would be best to assess how many coats you want to apply and how soon youd want to resume using the coated surface. They include the nature of application, humidity, temperature, and air circulation of the curing atmosphere. Hope this helps. The important part is sealingthe wood thus making it impervious to liquid. I have already used a homemade cream of beeswax and coconut oil on my bamboo bowls but I realized that my bowls are cracking when taken to places with low humidity and high temperatures. I would let it dry which could take time, sand it well (it should produce a very fine white dust evenly over the entire table) and apply a last coat but dont allow it to soak in just apply give a minute and wipe. I will cover that in my next article. Therefore, drying is a short-term process, while curing is long-term. . The Best Way to Stain and Finish Pine Wood, searching for the wet-on-wet burnishing method using a buffer. . Dampness will slow drying time so if your basement is humid it will affect it. Also, continue to work the whole wood expanse and ensure the mineral spirit thins the Tung oil. Happy Holidays . Hi Paul, I too wish I had seen this a week earlier. The surface should look very, very wet but not puddled. Thanx for your comments. Any dust left behind may create imperfections in the finish. Then, wipe off the excess oil and continue applying the oil until you get the desired finish. River tables are often a combination of epoxy and some oil. Unlike most other oils and top coats in its pure form it contains no harmful VOCs or other chemicals. I sanded down to original wood and used 220 grit last. For example, paint thinner is not a perfect choice to preserve the lumber beneath the finish. It is actually classed as a grass and lacks many of the commonalities of most woods. Also, my second comment. Tung oil has been in the market for centuries. There are any number of online sites and some of your woodworking stores (non-big box like Rockler, etc) that carry it as well. This is a factor based on temperature, humidity and thickness of the coat. Your finish should last years (if not decades) unless abused. Mineral spirits come in handy where the surface is still tacky and shows no signs of getting dry. Woodworkers take this to their advantage when staining and oiling for color and protection. Did I mess up and have to start over? I have been applying tung oil to my old teak furniture and a new oak worktop with mixed results & Id like to know what Im doing wrong. The oil and wax thats been already applied will not allow for proper absorption. Sorry I have never worked with mineral spirits/beeswax combos, so Im not sure how you should proceed. . I use MinWax Tung Oil Protective Finish on many of my wood carvings (birch, western red cedar, yellow cedar.) In order to get an even finish, do you think I need to use a sanding sealer, particularly on the end grain? then about 9 coats and Im sure I didnt let it completely dry between coats so it now has different sheens and the grain is not even. In addition, it Whatyou are experiencingis the tung oil drying. Wetting the wood raises its grain (kinda like split-ends in hair) which can be sanded down with the last or next sanding of 180 or 220 grit papers. After 2 days, I feel that surface is ok, but Then, leave the project for a few days. Be careful not to oversaturate the wood with a single application. Most floors are polyurethane coated. Yes youll be okay and you are right about dry times and humidity. Bob Allen, Hey Robert. This way, youll deliver a dry finish instead of a tacky one. This site is too new. Any accidental scratches or dents made while the tung oil is still fresh may be noticeable in the completed finish. 66,46,38 popular wood. Let me know please. No additional sealer is needed as the tung oil naturally seals and offers waterproof protection. Is it possible? Actually you can download them right from my website and print them on your computer. . Im down to the last step of pure tung oil in a few days. Ive been following your instructions to refinish our furniture ( oak table , walnut table with polyurethanes and now maple chairs with tung oil) While the oil wont be absorbed into the epoxy the epoxy itself will be a protectant of sorts. Older and reclaimed woods will suck it up like a camel in the dessert. Some who label their product tung oil have NO TUNG OIL WHATSOEVER!!! Allow the oil to soak into the wood for about 20 to 30 minutes and wipe off the excess using a clean, lint-free cloth. You wont believe how easy this is. If dry time is over 10 hours, sanding with abrasive pads between coats is required for adhesion. After the initial and subsequent applications you should wait 2-7 days before sanding and reapplying. The environmentalengineer who did theanalysis toldus that unless the surface is violatedand the air contaminated with its dust its safe environmentally. Im familiar with the name of the product but dont use it, so I cant answer that your question. Also, you are good to go with fewer coats. Im thinking maybe using Tung oil over my homemade cream can help to avoid splitting and cracking. . Thats why you should test it with a piece of fine sandpaper. . You can get a high gloss finish with Tung oil by using more coats. They take it to a saw mill and cut it into planks. Its okay to put your project in service once dry but you should refrain from heavy use until hardened. (You know you are in trouble when you cant even articulate good questions. I ran across a site that advised against getting parawood wet due to rotting, fungus, and insect damage. I am leaving town for 3 weeks and thought to just let it be and do a couple additional coats when i get back after sanding. Hi Paul, Allow the oil to be absorbed into the surface and dwell for a few minutes. For oil paints, with new or previously painted surfaces, a second coat should be applied within 12-24 hours of painting the first coat. Fortunately, you can thin the oil with thinner or mineral spirits. I dont work with polymerized Tung Oil so I cant really comment on its properties. The Mahogany Flame looks very red but overall very rich and nice looking on the PTP test deck. Live Edge Server with Inverse Base with Linseed Oil Finish Therefore, youll need more oil when covering a larger surface. best . Its more expensive but worth it. . So I have a fireplace mantel that is made from pine, and it is unfinished (our carpenter did a lovely job!). I dont want to do the usual preps but my question is this: do surface oils/waxes need to be removed for tung oil to properly penetrate? The components of Tung oil crosslink with atmospheric oxygen and polymerize to make a hard, water-resistant film. best . Per your post, it seems I should have sanded more and started with a different ratio. Itd be like repainting a Rolls Royce with a can of rustoleum!! Remove the original finish with a paint scraper. . The grain amazing, it has everything from the birds eye to wavy sand dunesto light and dark textures but id like the final look to be even on the sheen. I typically dont stain maple because of issues especially blotching. It should last about a year before it needs any sort of reapplication. Application is different with oil finishes too. working on a large live edge table. If you are sanding with a fine grade paper (320-400) you cant remove much material anyway. I wouldnt cover it in plastic. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Its probably uneven drying and saturation issues. But to get maximum value from the formula, it would be best to allow it to cure well after application. Hi Paul Can you tell me which and the brand? best . Happy Holidays . paul. Between coats just before apply your next coat do a very lite sanding following the direction of the grain (operative word is lite as we dont want to cut through the very thin layer we just put down previously). The tung oil varnish would dry faster between coats. Please store it away from too much heat and light. Since early coats have been thinned they tend to dry much quicker (see sanding between coats for timing). Use a thin dry brush to coax stubborn particles out of creases and grooves. They are also ideal for both professionals and amateurs. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 101,486 times. It's too toxic and I refuse to use it. Apply a generous but controllable amount of Tung oil to your applicator especially for the initial few coats. I too took many classes early in my hobby. Using tung oil is probably the most complex method, as it involves a special technique called wet-on-wet burnishing, which means using several coats and Like to get a little darker/richer tone to the wood. The door will do well with tung oil. Its analogous to saran wrapping the wood. I also dont really like the high polish of poly and prefer a more satin finish. Hey Lewis. I have recently been working with polymerized (super heated) tung oils and have fallen in love because of their quick dry times. Hey Michael. This product protects your woodworking projects from scratches and damages caused by heat, chemicals, and stains. paul, Hey Jeanna. Wiping varnishes are just what the name impliesstraight varnishes that have been thinned enough to be wiped on with a cloth. Touch up aging finishes by brushing on a fresh coat of tung oil once every 1-2 years. . I am building a small camp on an island in Maine and have purchase kiln dried, ship lap cedar boards for the inside walls of the camp. If the surface produces a white dust it is ready for recoating, if it doesnt it isnt dry and more time is necessary. Apply the Tung oil in the grain direction and let it settle on the surface for about five to ten minutes. paul, Hello, . You may be wondering which of the above fast drying techniques is the best. Hey Recbecca. Learn more Get it Thursday, Feb 16 Only 20 left in stock - order soon. best . Mix equal parts of linseed or tung oil, with an oil based varnish or poly varnish and mineral oil. . Sorry for the delayed response, out of town. . Dont worry too much about over-sanding either. Happy Holidays . $43.70 ($1.37/Fl Oz) Ultimately, the wood becomes immune to acidic components, scratches, and dents. I would scuff up the bowls with a few grades of steel wool (coarser to finer) and see if the wool clogs with wax then try applying pure polymerized tung oil on the bottom of one of your bowls to see if it absorbs. 3. Even after several coats the wood goes back to a dull finish. Given the long drying times between coats, do I need to protect them from the rain during this period? The manufacturer says it cant be sanded off. Anything higher than that and drying times will be affected. Manufacturers are devious as tung oil is expensive so blending makes it cheaper and faster drying. Tung Oil is pretty thick so following my recommended thinning steps will help absorption tremendously. Monitor the piece the first 10 days, wiping off any excess oil that collects. I like the idea of applying the product laying flat vs vertical. If you use Polymerized Tung Oil in placeof Pure Tung Oil the dry times will be overnight insteadof days to weeks between coats. In all the years Ive been using plywood I have never seen the glue from a veneer dissolved by paint thinner (or any of the thinning agents). Pure Tung Oil is my favorite finish if I have the time. Should I now go back and sand to 400 grit and start over with the ratios/number of coats you suggest? More resting time means better absorption. The process of heating tung oil has been around for years but needless toi say its a somewhat dangerous process to do in the average woodworkers shop. Also, the oil gives a wet and transparent finish that enhances the woods color. best . Thanks a million!! Danish oil only needs a few hours to dry because of other components in the mixture. If so, does it have to be foam? . These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. They prevent surface coats fromsticking and oils from penetrating. The wood starts to regurgitate the oil resulting in the white residue. Therefore, it would be best to find a way to fasten the drying process. Do one coat tonight. Well, it depends on the nature of your desired finish. Here are some of the steps to follow when adding polyurethane over Tung oil. Not so if the surface is waxed. best . . Gravity obviously favors applying to top but the oil will still be absorbed upside down. Allow the paint stripper to settle on the wood and let it soften the finish for about 15 to 20 years. If the sanding produces a fine white dust you are good to go. Im really not sure Jim. Typically its 20-40 minutes depending on which coat it is (the initial thinner coats dry faster). This item: Waterlox Universal Tung Oil Sealer, 1 Pint. Im sure you could go over Tung Oil with polyurethane but why? Thanks again for the input.. Paul, just wanted to let you know I see now that Old Masters is not polymerized oil. There is a polymerized tung oil thats been super-heated to change its molecular structure. Sanding? It can take a week to get started and take up to 30 days to fully cure. Tung oil has to cure (dry all the through) before applying subsequent coats. For example, please consider oiling your surface or having a polyurethane coat to enhance the woods natural tone. You shouldnt need more than a single canister of tung oil for most small projects. However, it would be best to adopt the best application method for the best outcome. Polyurethane, lacquer and shellac just lay on the surface. Thanks. It poses a problem when trying to refinish with any other oil. Three things help when using oil on porous woods. While the oil itself is naturally non-toxic, chemical solvents can leach into foods that come into contact with the surface, making them harmful to ingest. Last question is if i wait a few weeks and sand it down with 400 and it is nice white powder should the application of additional coats be 50/50 tung oil and the varnish i decide on using. Spammers probably dont know I exist yet!! You can walk on the oiled floors with clean shoes. Thank you very much for sharing. In Stock. Thank you! . paul. As I mentioned, future coats will gravitate close to the depth of the last coat, building on its depth, durability and appearance. Must have the Spanish version of spell check!! Tung oil needs about six or more coats to deliver a perfect finish unlike, Danish oil. Im not sure what it would do. I think its an oil blend. It will interfere with drying. That said heres the advantages of Pure Tung Oil. Im told it preserves tonal quality better. Please consider a minimum of our coats. A gallon of tung oil will cover 400 square feet of surface. It is Pure Tung Oil that has been super heated which alters its molecular structure. Also, it would be best to get fine steel wool to scrape off the oil. After 30 minutes your wood should be saturated with oil and any excess wiped off. I am currently treating a butcher block countertop with mineral oil. . Surface coatings (polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, wax) seal the surface with very little entering the woods pores. For a high-gloss finish, you may need paul. Wipe any excess and youre done. Havent been tortured enough? They are also more practical options, but these terms rarely appear on product labels. Humidity plays an extremely important role with tung oil. best . In a thick coat, oxygen can't reach all of the oil, and the surface will forever feel rubbery and very . Is Manufacture Wood Good In 2023? There are manufacturers who sell stuff as tung oil without any actual tung oil in them. For instance, drying is a process where the finish is free from water due to evaporation. WebUse a natural bristle brush for hard to reach areas. Im hoping ill be ok if i just let it cure for a bit. Apply a second coat to the surface after the first coat settles into the wood. The 3/0 steel wool will scuff the surface enough. best . Just came across this site. Here is a step by step guide to applying Tung Oil the right way. And since youll need to apply multiple coats, often five to seven, it could take you several days to finish something with tung oil. Mix the oil and solvent in a jar, bowl or clean squeeze bottle type container. Its had several weeks to dry between the coats. When i sanded, it did gum up the sand paper which led me to believe it wasnt completely cured or dried. Make sure it is properly dried before starting. Oily rags are volatile and should be hung to air dry. I mix my own 50/50. Tung Oil is great by itself. Otherwise, you may risk working on a rainy or super sunny day. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Apply-Tung-Oil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Apply-Tung-Oil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0f\/Apply-Tung-Oil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9607063-v4-728px-Apply-Tung-Oil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"